The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-02-23
JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL
ADDRESSES A BRILLIANT AUD.
IENCE IN Chicago.
Under the Auspices of the Union
Leake Club, and fs Warm
Iy Received.

CHICAGO, ILL.,, February 22.-James
Russell Lowell wa greeted at Central
Music Hall this afternoon by bril-
liant audience, assemb ed TO bear him
deliver an address onS"Amsrican
Politics" Every seat in the hall was
taken long before the time Mr.. Lowell
was expected. On tine platform Was
a distinguished array OF gentlemen,
including ex Cabinet members, Fed.
eral and State Judges, Generals and
lesser military officers, bishops and
other ecclesiastical dignitaries and
many Of the foremost repre-
sentstives OF the commercial interests
OF Chicago and the Northwest. On
behalf OF the Union League Club Jan.
George W. Smith, introducing Mr..
Lowell, explained that the address
was the fret OF an annual series under
the auspices of the club, the idea be-
ing to inaugurate il possible a revival
of the general recognition of the BIRTH
day of Washington and cultivate
among the people higher political
culture.
Mr.. Lowell on coming forward was
greeted with prolonged applause. He
said: Ladies and gentlemen, when l
received the invitation to speak here
tonight, and, indeed, until short
time ago, l had an impression that l
was to speak as one of course. 1t
was an erroneous impression | know,
but 1t was q sincere one. was offered
my choice of two otopics-politics or lit
eraturs-and at Fl st chose politics, but
l now appear in a new capacity to an
nounce change of programme. After
having written an address on politics,
when came to read it over felt that
stood in very delicate position. /
was to address mixed audience, an
audience composed Of both parties, /
was not speaking in my own person,
but as the representative of club
composed OF both parties. Now l be-
lieve / have been in the habit at times
OF speaking my mind pretty strongly,
perhaps sometimes too strongly, but
/ found this was an occasion on which
l was placed in delicate position.
where l could not express myself with
entire franknees, as ones speaking In
my own person. You all know Of
course quite as we'll as I do that text
is mere brutum fulmen, without
direct and immediate illustration, and
l have observed, as / dare say you
have, that direct and immediate Illus
trations seem to have some personal
application in them. Direct applica-
tions and illustrations seem TO have
gone to the school of the prophet
Nothau and 10 thay do unk aaxy IN an
many words "Thou art the man."
they always seem to imply 1t. Itseems
to me l had better throw up Ecy politi.
cal discourse, though with great reluc-
tance, because l could not make it to
my mind, and shall fall back on the
other limb OF the choice offered me-that
is, some literary topic. am the more
convinced of the wisdom OF the choice
since my arrival in Chicago, for 1t
would cause me the greatest possible
regret II any word OF mine should
mar the cordiality Of welcome which
will be one Of the pleasantest recollec.
tons OF my life. l shall therefore
ask you to listen to a few words
on criticism, aud then apply
them to the play of Richard III,
and to the absence OF certain things in
that play which seem to indicate to
my mind that 1t is not Shskespesrs's
work" The speaker then proceeded
with the dissertation on Richard ILL.,,
making no allusion to politics, Ameri-
can or otherwise. To say that the
audience was greatly surprised is to
put the situation very mildly. A few
people left the hall, but the address
received from the majority Of the au-
dience close attention, and at It's close
Mr.. Lowell was loudly applauded,
An elaborate banquet was rendered
10 Mr.. Lowell tonight by the Union
League Club. Covers were laid for
1926 guests. The principal speakers
were Congressmsn-elect Jehu Baker,
Gen. LuCius Fairchild and Mr..
Lowell. The remarks Of Mr.. Lowell
were OF an informal character,
but were wholly devoted TO a dis
cussion Of various phases OF politics in
this country. The burden OF the
speech was that the 80 called "practi-
cal politician" and the corner grocery
politician must 20. He did not give
any fuither explanation for changing
the subject of his afternoon address,
and none has been definitely asce er-
tanned, although the matter was the
subject Of much ofthe conversation at
the banquet.